WW1 1918 Dated British 60 Pounder Projectile and Fuze

~ WW1 1918 Dated British 60 Pounder Projectile And Fuze ~

A most interesting piece, this 60 pounder projectile is fitted with the N106 IIA super-quick percussion fuze, the first one in a long series meant to answer the new battlefield requirements of the second half of the Great War.

Before the development of this fuze, most of the British shells failed to detonate in the muddy grounds of Flanders.

The landing impact energy was often absorbed by the mud and the fuze deceleration was not quick enough to trigger the usual mechanisms of the existing graze percussion fuzes, or sometimes the ground wasn’t not hard enough to deform the head of the 'direct action fuzes'.

Inspired by a French 1915 concept (the 'fusée IAL'), the fuse it was designed to be very sensitive to landing impacts, even in soft grounds or on non resisting targets.

The fuze on our shell is stamped

‘broad arrow
NO 106 IIAD STECO
7 18
R broad arrow L
7/18
9740
0330’

The shell comes with its copper base ring.

~ Dimensions ~

The projectile is 16 inches (40.5 cm) tall and its base diameter is 4.33 inches (11 cm).

The shell weighs 13 Kg.

~ Condition ~

The shell and its fuze remain in good used condition.

Please refer to the pictures.

~ Postage ~

UK postage is £30 or it can be picked up from our shop in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.